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X)nial 
Gdgys 

Walter 
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Colonial 
HoEdays 







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To My Mother 



PREFACE 



It is greatly to be deplored that o«r 
forefathers did not foresee otjr desire 
to know how their Christmases were 
spent» Interesting would be the tales 
they could have told had they not 
been too busy with their festivities to 
think of recording them* But we 
must content ourselves with a few 
old diaries and meagre letters treas- 
ured in libraries and historical societies, 
or owned privately by the writer^s 
descendants. -^ 

The New England material consists 
very largely of Puritan protests against 
celebrations, which sometimes afford 
us tantalizing hints of the nature of 
the occasions* Virginia and the South 
are particularly bald of accounts* 
The few diaries from these sections 






:m;^ 



that are extant are significantly silent 
when the holidays begin, and we can 
infer that the old cavaliers had time 
for pleasure only, daring that joyous 
period* And some of them, doubt- 
less, consumed more spiced wassail 
than was reconcilable with holding 
a pen* 

The bitterness of Puritan hatred of 
Christmas celebration is difficult for 
us to conceive in this day* A lively 
picture of the Puritan point of view 
of the Christmas festivities of the olden 
time is afforded us by Stubbes in his 
**Anatomie of Abuses in England,*^ 
and by Prynne in his **Histrio- 
Mastix/' The merrymakings of that 
day were doubtless carried very much 
to excess* That this is Stubbes^s 
opinion is vouched for by his con- 
demnation of the participants as 



"hell-hounds** in his bitter tirade 
against their **DeviIIe*s datince** of 
merriment* Prynne said that Christ- 
mas ought to be ** rather a day of 
mottrning than of rejoicing,** and not 
a time to be spent in ** amorotis mixt, 
voItiptttOttSt unchristian, that I say 
not pagan, dancing, to God*s, to 
Christ's dishonour, reIigion*s scandal, 
chastitie*s shipwracke and sinne*s ad- 
vantage.** 

Such was the attitude of our Pil- 
grim Fathers toward holiday celebra- 
tion. The first Christmas at Plymouth 
was spent in huilding a house for the 
wanderers, and we are told that ** no 
man rested all that day/* But our 
hearts go out to the kindly master 
of the ship, who marked the occasion 
by causing them to **have some 
Beere/* 



iii^ 



,*!^?!^:/?^ 






Btit time brings change, and even 
though the mifls of the Puritan Gods 
ground particularly slow, we find 
mention in the diary of William 
Pynchon of a dance in the holiday 
season of 1783 at Endicot's, in Salem, 
descendants of austere John Endicot 
who cut down the Maypole at Ma-re 
Mount. Picture the indignation of 
the stern old Puritan, could he have 
foreseen this radical departure from 
the old standards! And even at this 
late date the elders shake their 
heads with: **What are we coming 
to?'* The diarist himself seems to 
feel that they are becoming a bit reck- 
less in their dissipation, for he records 
a goodly array of dances with notice- 
able care; and is there not a trace of 
sly amusement in his remarking the 
dance at Brother Goodale's? 



Contents 



CHRISTMAS 

The First Christmas Days at Plymouth, J620-2 J —Bradford and Mourt 
Christmas in Virginia with Captain John Smith .... 
Pastimes in Virginia in J609- JO — Henry Spelman 
Christmas Mentioned in Old New Amsterdam Records, J654 
Christmas in Boston, 1685, J697 and 1722— Samuel Sewall 
Holiday Time in New York, J745 and J747— Elisha Parker 
Thanksgiving the Puritan Substitute for Christmas, J750— Capt. Francis 

Goelet .......■••• 

The Christmas Holidays of a Puritan Girl, J77J— Anna Green Winslow 
Christmas in New York in 1773 ....... 

A Notable Christmas with Washington, J776 .... 

A Quiet Christmas with Washington in New York 

A Christmas Eve Dinner with Washington in Philadelphia, 1795 — The 

ophilus Bradbury ......... 

Christmas with Washington at Mt. Vernon, J799 — Mrs, Gushing 
The Christmas Season in Philadelphia, 1767-87 — Jacob Hiltzheimer 
Christmas in Salem, 1780-87 — William Pynchon 
Christmas at Valley Forge, 1777 — Dr. Albigence Waldo 



PAGE 
i 

2 
3 
4 
5 
8 

9 

10 
14 
15 
16 

17 
18 
19 
20 
21 



NEW YEARNS DAY 

New Year's Day in Colonial Times — Marquis de Chastellux 

New Year's Day, t790 — George Washington 

New Year's Day in Boston, 1723— Samuel Sewall 

New Year's Day in Philadelphia, J767 —Jacob Hiltzheimer . 



23 
25 
26 
27 



xii CONTENTS 

PAGE 

A Festive New Year's in Salem, 1783 — William Pynchon ^ . . . 28 

ST^ VALENTINE^S DAY 

A Curious St. Valentine's Custom — The Connoissearf 1754 .... 29 

Valentine's Day, 1772 — Anna Green Winslow 30 

Madame Pepys' Valentine — Pepys* Diary, 1667 31 

Valentine's Day in Philadelphia, 1667 — Jacob Hiltzheimer .... 32 

EASTER 

Easter, J 688 — Samuel Sewall 33 

Easter in Boston, 1772 — Anna Green Winslow 33 

ALL FOOLS* DAY 

Verse From Poor Robin's Almanack, 1760 34 

All Fools' Day in Boston, 1772 — Anna Green Winslow .... 34 

MAY DAY 

May Day Celebration at Ma-re Mount, 1628 — Gov. Bradford ... 35 

May Day at Ma-re Mount, 1628 — Thomas Morton 36 

An Amusing May-day Incident — Alice Morse Earle, in Stage Coach and 

Tavern 'Days 39 

INDEPENDENCE DAY 

Independence Day with Washington, 1790 — Washington's Diary ... 40 

Independence Day in Philadelphia, 1 78 1, J 783 and J 786 — Jacob Hiltzheimer 41 

A Curious Ode to Independence Day 42 

THE ROYAL BIRTHDAYS 

A Celebration of the Queen's Birthday in Boston, 1714 — Samuel Sewall . 44 

Celebration of Royal Birthdays in New York, 1734-6 45 



CONTENTS xiii 

PAGE 
The King's Birthday in Boston, 1750 — Capt. Francis Goelet ... 47 



A ^'Turtle Frolick*' in Boston, 1750 — Capt. Francis Goelet .... 48 

St. Andrew's Day in Virginia, 1737 — From the Virginia Gazette ... 49 

Election Day, I8I7 51 

THANKSGIVING DAY 

The First Thanksgiving Held in North America, 1578 52 

A Thanksgiving at Sagadahoc in 1607 ........ 53 

Thanksgiving at Plymouth, 1 62 J — Gov. Bradford, Thomas Morton and 

Edward Winslow ........... 54 

The Fast and Thanksgiving of 1623 — Gov. Bradford and Edward Winslow . 57 
A Thanksgiving with Anna Green "Winslow, 1 77 1 . . . . .59 

A New England Thanksgiving Dinner, J 779 — Juliana Stnith ... 62 

Thanksgiving at Valley Forge, 1778 — George "Washington .... 66 

Thanksgiving in New York — George Washington ..... 68 

A Thanksgiving at Scituate Church, 1636 ....... 69 

The Thanksgiving Law, 1636 ......... 70 

The First Thanksgiving Proclamation in Early New York Records, 1645 . 71 

Thanksgiving in Boston in 1685 and 1688 — Samuel Sewall .... 72 





L^ 



"i«^*"n«?«.r»»ea mxm an uicn Mjm a silver riiju. 

^ms rep eleriaiii wid used ^ornamw^ onJv.Ldie 1*7 "^ 
dishe^ were pkaxl all an)uiKl,atKl ilicm wa5 an el- V > 

».|j.iinsAavarH> (i Mine* ipunck - ,, 

,^ atter ttve candlej v,-ere introducwJ. « 

^ere were aixxii tvenj*- gue^b in all • • 

! J5^ were MalW on fcrlouror »i? men Jervani^ 

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Colonial Holidays 



The First Christinas Days at Plymouth 

Plymouth, 1620 

**The 25th day began to erect the first howse for common tise 
to receive them and their goods*^ — Gov* Bradford. ** Monday, the 
25th day, we went on shore, some to fell tymber, some to saw, some 
to rive, and some to carry; so no man rested all that day* * * * Mon- 
day the 25th being Christmas day, we began to drinke water aboord, 
hut at night the master caused vs to have some Beere'^ — c^ourt* 

Plymouth, 1621 

I shall remember one passage more, rather of mirth than of 
waight. One the day called Chrismasday, the Gov caled them out to 
worke, (as was used,) but the most of this new-company excused 
them selves and said it wente against their consciences to work on 
that day. So the Gov tould them that if they made it a mater of 
conscience, he would spare them till they were better informed. 
So he led-away the rest and left them; but when they came home 
at noone from their worke, he found them in the streete at play, 
openly; some pitching the barr and some at stoole-ball, and shuch 
like sports* So he went to them, and tooke away their implements, 
and tould them that was against his conscience, that they should 
play and others worke. If they made the keeping of it mater of 
devotion, let them kepe their houses, but ther should be no gameing 
or revelling in the streets. Since which time nothing hath been 
attempted that way, at least openly. Go1>. Bradford* 



An Eeurly Account of a Virginia Christmas with an Expedition 

of Capt. John Smith 

"The extreamc winde, rayne, frost and snow caused as to keepe 
Giristmas among the salvages where we were never more merry, 
nor fed on more plenty of good Oysters, Fish, Flesh, Wilde fowl 
and good bread, nor never had better fires in England* 







\ he extreame winde, rayne. frost 
~ and snow ce^useq us to keepe 



C 

we were 



(Sontempora 



, *^^W| Ken they meet at feasi 
- . y^-r^ wise ihey vse ^prorts 




olonv at the k.^ 

ptainJohnJmitn y^^ 

trvas among Qie salvages where ^S>k \Mll 
_ ire never more merry, nor ted ^^»l^m 
on more plentypf good Oysters. 1 isk M^Bfi|^ 
lesh, Wilde fowl and good bread.^J^PSSK' 
nor never had better^ fires m England? )j|^^^^* 
^ '^ " ^ ^ account "^'(mf^^S 

sorottier- iffv^^^/vm; 

_,. ._^ ^ much like ^^1 ;]V0 

j ours heare in England as ther daunsir^e; JS^^^j^J?/ 
which is like our darbysher Hornepipe 
, a man first and uien a woman, and 
\so throuan them all, hanging all in 
a rouncl? ther is one which stand in 
the midost with a pipe and a rattell 
with which w^hen he heginns to 
make a noyes dl the rest Gigetts 
about wriihge ther neckes and 
itanipinge on >^ dround.^ "X- X^ 
/ vse beside football ,plax. 
-,=««., s.ich wemen and young Boyes 
doe much play at.The menneuer. Ihey ^\ 
make iher Uooles as ours oiwire^ J^ 
;neuer fight nor pull one another downa |i^ 
■ he men play withalitle balle lettingeit J' 
fallout of ther hand and striketh it f^^>:;i^ 
with the tope of his foot, and he that can PNjIjrj^A'i 
strike the ball furthest winns what |d«f3|)B 
they play for? 'X enxx P^Cmanj€^(^)^^ml^^^^ 



^a^ 




Pastimes in Virginia in 1609-10 

When they meet at feats or otherwise they vse sprots mach 
like o«rs heare in England as ther daansinge, which is like our 
darbysher Hornepipe a man first and then a woman, and so through 
them all, hanging all in a rottnd, ther is one which stand in the 
midest with a pipe and a rattell with which when he beginns to 
make a noyes all the rest Gigetts abottt wriinge ther neckes and 
stampinge on ye ground* 

They vsc beside football play, which wemen and young boyes 

doe much play at* The men netter. They make ther Gooles as 

ottrs only they netier fight nor ptill one another downe* The men 

play with a little balle lettinge it fall otit of ther hand and striketh 

it with the tope of his foot, and he that can strike the ball farthest 

winns what they play for* 

Henry Spelmarif 1613* (?) 



Old New Amsterdam Records 

**Dec« t4f 1654. As the winter and the holidays are at hand, 
there shall be no more ordinary meetings of this board (the city 
corporation) between this date and three weeks after Christmas. 
The cotirt messenger is ordered not to summon any one in the 
meantime.*' 



fsmmmmmmmammm 





e^l^oloniaf^CCe. 



Christmas in Boston, 1685, 1697, and 1722 

(From the Diary of Samuel Sewall) 
Boston 

Dec* 25, 1685. Carts come to town and shops open as usual* 
Some somehow observe the day, but are vexed. I believe that the 
Body of people profane it, and blessed be God no authority yet to 
compel them to keep it* 

Dec. 28 — Cous. Fissenden here, Saith he came for Skins last 
Friday, and was less Christmas-keeping than last year, fewer Shops 
Shut up. 

Seventh-day, Decemb"" 25 — J 697. Snowy day: Shops are open 
and sleds come to Town with Wood and Fagots as formerly, save 
what abatement may be allowed on account of the wether. This 
morning we read in course the J 4, 15, and 16*^ Psalms. From the 
4*^ V. of the 16*^ Ps — I took occasion to dehort mine from Christmas- 
keeping, and charged them to forbear. * * Joseph tells me that 
though most of the Boys went to the Church yet he went not. 

Dec*" 19 — 1722 — His Excellency took me aside to Southeast 
Window of the Council Chamber, to speak to me about adjourning 
the Gen I Court to Monday next because of Christmas. I told his 
Excellency I would consider of it. 

Dec" 20 — I invited Dr. Mather to Dine with me, not knowing 
that he preach'd. After Diner I consulted with him about the 
Adjournment of the Court. We agreed, that 'twould be expedient 
to take a vote of the Council and Representatives for it. 

Friday, Dec 21. P. M. The Gov took me to the window again 
looking Eastward, next Mrs. Phillips's and spake to me again about 



6 COLONIAL HOLIDAYS 

adjotjming the Court next Wednesday* I spake against it; and 
propounded that the Gov"^ wottid take a Vote for it; that he would 
hold the Balance even between the Church and us* His Excellency 
went to the Board again^ and said much for this adjourning; All 
kept Christmas but we; I suggested K* James the First to Mr* Dudley, 
how he boasted what a pure church he had; and they did not keep 
Yule nor Pasch* Mr* Dudley ask*d if the Scots kept Christmas. 
His Excellency protested he believed they did not* Gov said they 
adjourned for the Commencement and Artillery* But then tis by 
Agreement* CoL Taylor spake so loud and boisterously for Adjourn- 
ing, that 'twas hard for any to put in a word; Col* Townsend seconded 
me, and Col* Partridge; because this would prolong the Sessions* 
Mr* Davenport stood up and gave it as his opinion, that 'twould 
not be Convenient for the Gov"^ to be present in Court that day; 
and therefore was for Adjourning* But the Gov is often absent; 
and yet the Council and Representatives go on* Now the Gov has 
told us, that he would go away for a week; and then returned, and 
if he liked what we had done. He would Consent to it* Gov men- 
tioned how it would appear to have Votes passed on Dec 25* But 
his Excellency need not have been present nor signed any Bill that 
day* I said the Dissenters came a great way for their Liberties 
and now the Church had theirs, yet they could not be contented, 
except they might tread all others down. Gov said he was of the 
Church of England. I told Mr* Belcher of his Letter to me* He 
answered, He thought he had been a Dissenter then. Gov hinted 
that he must be free on Monday because of the Communion the 
next day. 

Satterday Dec 22 — about a quarter of an hour before 12. the 
GoV^ adjourned the Court to Wednesday morn 10* a-clock, and sent 
Mr. Secretary into the House of Deputies to do it there. 





N. .rY)rk.i745.^l7f.| 
,:"^"^..ane to New York ! 



where 1 spent the 

winter; lodged at ^^^^ 

Mns.Vkigelderjj; spent \ > 

dfleWmy timeiit r i-* 

t Alejcariderji in the dav 

Flaw and business at ;)j»». , 

night; * at Ivlorrisania ^\ / ^ ^ 

, wm/mmmmBBrnm' ^^^^ aepmter; in ;||k 

/ December myljfaiidmother dyed; in v^ , i|^, 

' hoUdayi lie cocksTought;xoung as^mbly ;^«»« 

/i in 5roadway;many entertainments by the ,^ 

I parents of the young ladies, dii^ same y 

♦ the winter before. Mn. aker _%tosh. . •/ ^ , / 

♦5 -reton o£ficer5,Harrison; weltth aKes ,^^ ^ ; 

' some time Jiebeginmng of the winter. 17 r> J' 
— luchfrolickirigthis wintenatfirst not ^; 
[acquainted with any.ot thedticers. v^^ ' 
ivirt r loiinston intimate; introduced to ^ 



iiacauainieu wuii tjjijy.^i njv.^»njv» 
OavidcJohnston intimate; introduced to 
'einigotintimatewith oband lyr- 
" ,Cards:di\eniom;Tnorx^f!iTK^sptuU 
.withLadies;fewhDUcksatthelr 
' liomes;*our Jaunt toi ^n*^ 
ankinaslay; dined at < 
J. Bass's with L.adie!J: 
young ^ksscriibly: 
askidaLsiTto 






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""^^'fessSff.' 



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Twelfth - Cake 



CHRISTMAS IN BOSTON, 1685, 1697, AND 1722 7 

Ttics. Dec 25» I chose to stay at home and not go to the 
Roxbtiry Lecture^ Visited my old friend and Carpenter, Peter 
Weare, and found him gon to h — (eaven!). The Shops were open, 
and Carts came to Town with Wood, Hoop-poles, Hay &c» as at 
other Times: Being a pleasant day, the street was fifled with Carts 
and Horses* 



Holiday Time in New York, 1745 and 1747 

**Cainc to New York where I spent the winter; lodged at Mrs 
Vangelder's; spent chief of my time at Mr* Alexander's in the day; 
law and business at night; continued as we had done the winter 
before at mathematics with his son. At Morrisania with J. Depey- 
ster; in December my Grandmother dyed; in ye holidays the cock*s 
fottght* Young assembly in Broadway; many entertainments by the 
parents of the yoting ladies, I think same the winter before. Mrs 
Baker Mcintosh, C* Breton officers, Harrison; Twelfth Cakes some 
time the beginning of the winter* (J 745) 

Much frolicking this winter; at first not acquainted with any 
of the officers; David Johnston intimate; introduced to *em; got 
intimate with Rob and Tyr * * Cards; diversions; more time spent 
with Ladies; few frolicks at their homes; * * frolick at Mrs John- 
stons; * * our jaunt to Morrisania in a slay; dined at J. Bass's with 
Ladies; young Assembly; asked also to the Old** {MAI) 

Diary of Elisfia Parker* 



Thanksgiving the Puritan Substitute for Christmas 

Boston Novemb"^ Jst J 750* This Being a General Thanks- 

givemg day, was Strictly Observed heere and more so by the Pres- 

byterianSt its Call^ their ChristmaSt and is the Greatest Holyday 

they have in the Year and is Observed more Strict than Stinday. 

"Went to Meeting with Capt. Wendell and Family and where Dynd 

with a Large Compv Gent" and Ladies and where very Merry had 

a Good deal Chat and Spent the Evening at Mr. Jacob "Wendells 

with a Large Company Stip'd Drank a Number Bumpers and Sung 

Our Songs &c till morn^g* 

Journal of Capt* Francis Goetet. 



The Christmas Holidays of a Puritan Girl 

(Being extracts from the diary of Anna Green "Winslow) 

Boston, Dec. 14th, 1771. 

The weather and walking have been very winter like since the 
above hotch-potch, pothooks & trammels* I went to Mrs, "Whitwells 
last wednessday, — yott tattght me to spell the 4 day of the week, 
but my attnt says that it should be spelt Wednesday, My atint also 
sayst that till I come otit of an agregiotis fit of latighterre that is apt 
to seize me & the violence of which I am at this present tmder, 
neither English sense, nor anything rational may be expected of 
me, I went to say, that, I went to Mrs Whitwells to see Mad'm 
Storer*s fttneral, the walking was very bad except on the sides of 
the street which was the reason I did not make a part of the pro- 
cession, I should have dined with Mrs Whitwell on thttrsday if a 
grand storm had not prevented. As she invited me, I saw Miss 
Caty Vans at lecture last evening. 

Deer 24th — Elder Whitwell told my attnt, that this winter 
began as did the winter of 1740, How that was I don*t remember 
bttt this I know, that today is by far the coldest we have had since 
I have been in New England, (N, B, All rtin that are abroad) 

Last sabbath being rainy I went to and from meeting in Mr, 

Soley's chaise, I dined at tinkle Winslow's, the walking being so 

bad I rode there & back to meeting. Every drop that fell froze, 

so that from yesterday morning to this time the appearance has 

been similar to the description I sent yoti last winter. The walking 

is so slippery and the air so cold, that attnt chttses to have me for 

10 



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lextrattrg 



cf aj^urita 






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_. vaikiiwjnuw b*>i?rv 
\rp winter like .<»jikc „ 
\liC ohovr holi'h rMitch ^ 
t)othookj|trmnjnpb-.I 

-« ^ task H«flm>Monv -f^<'^' 

^' ' Ji 4 (Jt^y of dw' ur<_'k,Uilmy | 
ftur>t ,*«> » /Krtt ii slw^iH 



I t^uni alto AHM ri"»i !>' 
' l^conve oui of tin oi^rfiJ- 



lili . 




of ^♦'KiVhf am al ih\s preie.A ui^er,iit^ifhcr npl" »h 
sense.nor am^Hna rational nva>^ b.- i^vv'-rU .1 <.l nK>. 

(iierji funeral • • 7"*^^ r^ ij r i *" i Tl 

■Jsince I HavA;een iaie,ev^i(|land. (I. - Jl i ur > 
mt are atroadllKheKalkjii^^ josbptxp ruM il.< ..n 
so cold tl^ftl nwitf cl>use< tohavvin. !.r1.f-r 'r..i!.^rt«»-«' 
tHodi*>x€nd aitoniorn^ ij a tvJidas j^)ih<' [M*.- aw-i 
hi* rtf «ocial.-.* have ordain.id,ii.i> aunl ttiir>k> uoi Jy 
in.ulJcSe r5.sSnutK niih m-- ^Kis; v>hK . , >oiAw. y »l >. : 
ti l»nu' vf>n.nis«' J'riuMvll.il i* nr<'n»'<'.'r»"<r(L&5.«-i^.'» 
^♦iHlh.r" nu-iUfot^ti thf ire. |rt uf «i...-Mf,n ..irt.i",,,- 

Ivvv" bf..-.v iKiiueck vKaU kll.jou }»»' '^.-I^M 'J '•"•*» 

<K«' is conifned b « cukU iIk >. r.jL. .- rtill io ..'>.-n- ii^JiJ^ fr 

icorxsuh Willi her. otn,t}«ry}HH.lhaiv upjK. •«{",'*» u ^h^ 
libu- infltirr ^*WK .>t». «hv»ll know n. lU pkyt. iiow l|^ 




V-f.-fS-^t JV» 



iH'ivr U is l)cttrr Attm ft bromer tarnfl; doril forvit deal' iiaj^; 
iittlf John fjenn- .«o pm > niiMamn.opr>t roitiake me » •• i 



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i ii to ino.H'hi'n Ik- conif t up,fiir i 



Ifnj. •••J^y * , -^ . ' Iraav l«vv /tm' {Jt-aMin-of Im-m 

/ "I r ^ i '* <■ - < I'"''*t uiuk-r«tarK] nis cftradi- 

r- \ /^~ 4 Y ^ fef^»- ^ ouM-rn- tjjtvt ly l> mun^- 

>'-»"^»>i*^ *• -^ iwi . . . -^ O ^ astevvniivf^alii 



libit' tM>ir_tla> rf lis Kwk^MToi)' e\er>'«la|\mM'oiK'. t 
r^ ' wisTi n» i npn.CDtAn«,l)rortM'r iifuil^np ( 



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di* aftemuon bi'irip" t.\ iMlitia} 

iwmeriti ii\!§Kial>un' trw't. ^-»^ ^ -•- ^--^ . _, 
^K iuas<{nPMedinn^jelk»-cooiu^ SaclL bib 

^AiHpronjn> pompwon* muM.riw capiiw auntj; i»>rfr 
sumtiinie sii»ce un'5t'nb?<.l tue muiIuuc ribuyiis on it; t tv 
■»i'-r»- l»nci»on\e Jokfi LnD*c5nape«rff»nftrt.»l>etfivwinp 
ibe past fjin n»> JrJ«r»'dTrapo pn'ser^ed tvf wAx ill tT>^ can, 
' IhmumH "Ji^.njv jMMm>erlon' u"li»'"' CvjLc.Cbd 
llMltiirilw'HmiiiiioJu'v ml liked ri 



ff nin n»> . 

J teil^wij , __ 

j >^i7^n\iK4i.(Ii>'cliH»k^b«>i\iieJt arv rvalJy »err bam 






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inone»' it ciMt. 
JsiJejnicel L. 



ri» il 
Pv)rmcf jE»jt nii tunajiii)^ Ai'tfra or ^ * ■n^'**-^ -' i 4 ' *8ft. i 



L5om»'baol need — , ^^ . .^ 

rooii^ not quite £4^">rtio ^unt»:julo- iaid.ibftt jW .(uppospj t 
Oxak i,j/«nuntr lyoukl be fri^iiited out uf ber %vit j al me 

^ bftVf twt oae cov«'^riii(f Jay rfw ■ cost.ibat I 



iilvt: 



ivutb inKteltl! 



jKadniv L. ' '>Cl5n>|l^on,n^iil,Nion'r j«ftict it 
"j^uiflit to be tmvd^ lesji. ^i*^*^ kit'miiil)' said it 

' Ekd 



— hot to be mftde tut tut. It ruokt'.* nj> . r \« '--«i 

itch i.ad» Lbum like mvvtlHop" ffiftrama.lubii ,ko Vs^"'^'}*'^ 1 
ftuiMuu roll is ivA rm»d»' wholly of an*dC!o»#'C«i/,^ -C''i— ^ ^*^i^ 










THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS OF A PURITAN GIRL U 

her scoflcr these two days* And as tomorrow will be a holiday, so 
the pope and his associates have ordained, my attnt thinks not to 
trouble Mrs Smith with me this week. I began a shift at home 
yesterday for myself, it is pretty forward. I forgot whether I 
mentioned the recept of Nancy's present. I am obliged to her 
for it. The Dolphin is still whole. And like to remain so» 

Deer 27th— This day, the extremity of the cold is somewhat 
abated. I keept Qiristmas at home this year, & did a very good 
day's work, aunt says so. How notable I have been this week I 
shall tell you by & by* I spent most of Tuesday evening with my 
favorite. Miss Soley, as she is confined by a cold, the weather still 
so severe that I cannot git farther, I am to visit her again before 
I sleep, & consult with her, (or rather she with me) upon a perticular 
matter wfiich you shall know in its place. How strangely indus-' 
trious I have been this week, I will inform you with my own hand — 
at present, I am so diligent that I am obliged to use the hand & 
pen of my old friend, who being near by is better than a brother 
far off. I don't forgit dear little John Henry so pray mamma, 
don't mistake me. 

I am glad my brother made an essay for a Post Script to your 
Letter. I must get him to read it to me, when he comes up, for 
two reasons, the one is because I may have the pleasure of hearing 
his voice, the other because I don't understand his carachters. I 
observe that he is mamma's **Duckey Darling." 

Dec*r 28th— Last evening a little after 5 oclock I finished my 
shift, I spent the evening at Mr. Soley's. I began my shift at 
t2 o'clock last Monday, have read my Bible every day this week 
and wrote every day save one. 



\2 COLONIAL HOLIDAYS 

tst. Jan»y 1772 — I wish my papa^ Mama, brother John Henry, 
& Cousin Avery & all the rest of my acquaintance at Cttmberland, 
Fortlattrence, Barrowsfield^ Greenland^ Amherst & €♦ a Happy New 
Year, I have bestowed no new year's gift, as yet* But have received 
one very handsome one, viz, the History of Joseph Andrews abbre- 
viated* In nice Guilt and flowers covers* This afternoon being a 
holiday I am going to pay my compliments in Sudbury Street* 

Jan*y 4th J 772 — I was drssed in my yeflow coatt my black hih 
& apron, my pompedore shoes, the cap my aunt Storer sometime 
since presented me with — (blue ribbons on it) & a very handsome 
loket in the shape of a hart she gave me — the past pin my Hon'd 
Papa presented me with in my cap, my new cloak ^ bonnet on, my 
pompedore gloves &c, &c* And I would tell you that for the first 
time, they all liked my dress very much* My cloak and bonnett 
are really very handsome, & so they had need be* For they cost 
an amasing sight of money, not quite £45 tho* Aunt Suky said, that 
she supposed Aunt Deming would be frighted out of her wits at the 
money it cost* I have got one covering, by the cost, that is genteel 
& I like it much myself* * * * *. I had my HEDDUS roU on, aunt 
Storer said it ought to be made less. Aunt Deming said it ought 
not to be made at all* It makes my head itch & ach & burn like 
anything Mamma* This famous roll is not made wholly of a red 
Cow Tail but is a mixture of that & horsehair (very course) & a 
little human hair of yellow hue, that I suppose was taken out of the 
back part of an old wig* But D — made it (our head) all carded 
together and twisted up* When it first came home. Aunt put it on 
& my new cap on it, and she took up her apron and mesur'd me, 
& from the roots of my hair on my forehead to the top of my notions 
I measured above an inch longer than I did downwards from the 



\ 




■■■?%( 



THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS OF A PURITAN GIRL 13 

roots of my hair to the end of my chin* Nothing renders a young 

person more amiable than virtue & modesty without the help of 

fals hair, red Cow Tail or D — (the barber.) Now all this mamma, 

I have just been reading over to my Aunt* ***** She hopes a 

little fals English will not spoil the whole with Mamma* Rome 

was not hxiiLd in a day* ********* ]y[y grandmamma sent 

Miss Deming, Miss Winslow & I one eight of a Dollar a piece for a 

New Years gift. 

I am Hon,d Papa & Mama 

Yr. ever Dutiful Daughter, 

Anne Green "Winslow 



Contemporary Account, New York, 1773 

"Last Monday the anniversary of St* Nicholas, otherwise called 
Santa Claas, was celebrated at Protestant Hall, at Mr* L* Waldron^s 
where a great number of the sons of that ancient saint celebrated 
the day with great joy and festivity* 



14 




Christmas , airy-tales 



A Notable Christmats with Washington 

(In camp above Trenton Falls, Dec. 23, 1776) 

"Christmas day at nightt one hour before day, is the time 
fixed for oar attempt on Trenton^ For Heaven's sake keep this to 
yotirselft as the discovery of it may prove fatal to xxsJ* Washingfton 
to CoL Codwalader^ On Christmas night Washington crossed the 
Delaware^ surprising the Hessians in Trenton on the morning of the 
26tht and capturing nearly a thousand prisoners with their arms* 
On Friday, Dec. 27 he sent the foflowing message to the President 
of Congress: 

**1 have the pleasure of congratulating you upon the success 
of an enterprise, which I had formed against a detachment of the 
enemy lying in Trenton, and which was executed yesterday morning" 



15 



A Quiet Christmas with Washington in New York 

Friday, Dec 25th — Christmas Day* Went to St* Patils Chapel 

in the forenoon. The visitors to Mrs* Washingfton this afternoon 

were not nttmerotis, btrt respectable* 

Washington s Diaty* 



i6 



A Christmas Eve Dinner with George and Martha Washington 

(Being a letter from Theophilus Bradbury to his daughter, Mrs. Hooper) 

Philadelphia, Sat. Dec. 26 — 1795. 

Last Thursday I had the honor of dining with the President in 
company with the Vice President, the Senators, the Delegates of 
Massachusetts, and some other members of Congress, about 20, in all* 

In the middle of the table was placed a piece of table fttmittire 
about six feet long and two feet wide, rounded at the ends. It 
was either of wood gilded, or polished metal, raised about an inch 
with a silver rim round it like that round a tea board; in the centre 
was a pedestal of plaster of Paris with images upon it, and on each 
end figures, male and female, of the same* It was very elegant and 
used for ornament only* The dishes were placed all around, and 
there was an elegant variety of roast beef, veal, turkeys, ducks, 
fowls, hams, etc.; puddings, jellies, oranges, apples, nuts, aknonds, 
figs, raisins, and a variety of wines and punch. 

We took our leave at six, more than an hour after the candles 
were introduced. No lady but Mrs. Washington dined with us. 
We were waited on by four or five men servants dressed in livery. 



17 



Christmeis with Wzishington at Mt Vernon 

The wife of Judge Gushing writes in February, 1799: — 

**We reached Mount Vernon the evening before ChristmaSt and 
if anything could have added to our enjoyment, it was the arrival 
of General and Mrs Pinckney the next day, while we were dining. 
You may be sure it was a joyful meeting, and at the very place my 
wishes had pointed out. To be in the company of so many esteemed 
friends, to hear our good General Washington converse upon political 
subjects without reserve, and to hear General and Mrs Pinckney 
relate what they saw and heard in France, was truly a feast to me. 
Thus the moments glided away for two days, when our reason 
pointed out the propriety of our departing and improving the good 
roads, as the snow and frost had made them better than they are 
in summer. 



18 





_____ _ udoJph'5 theiollou 

ing 0entlemen.Samuel\ lilex 
Le\i Hollingivv'orth. Israel , . 
J y Mor r is. Joseph Jones,- went , - 
' ^ to Lower TiniciuTi fox hunt ■ 
ina T here we were rnet hy 
Cnarle5, Richard andJames 
YVillirig. and after riding 
about the woods until two 

, o'clock, without the sifirn of 

diox,we returned to Joseph Kudol[3lii£dined 
jec.i3.i7§5-Mv5onTnomas caine home 
, _ 'to spend Christmzii with us. In ,the 
afternoon tooka ride < and stopped at I lios. 
Hiapkinson's to see his colts. '^^^^ pv^ 
Tjge c. 25. 175b -Qiristmas day clear and cold 
iMlForenoon went to church in Rac^ St.. 
^v wife and I dined at GeneralIVTiftlin'5 
with his f ainil>; and the Hon. Gerardp 

\yiikDop.CaptN.Falkner and wife. M 
sonV \ illiarnJ)rought Capt. Falkner an. 
wife to the Genefali in a sleigh and tool 
them home.^^^ ^^^^ '"V. ^^^^ ^"^- 
V L c 25, \787- Christmas. \ v'e three went 
^ to Reading bv invitation of Gen.D. 
rodhead and dined \vith him.^^%^ 
. here were nine at the table: Mr. 
C.Read. Mr.Dundass, MrU Clyrner, 
Mr. Moore, G en. Mifmn, Captain Faulk- 
ner and myself ^"%^ fjaco6^ ifizSlmer 






'tgK.. 




"^SfjJ^:^; 



^^^\ 





The Christmas Season in Philadelphia 

Dec* 26 — J 767* — From Rudolph's the following gentlemeiit 
Samttel Miles, Levi HoUingsworth, Israel Morris, Joseph Jones * * 
went to Lower Tinicam fox htinting. There we were met by Charles, 
Richard, and James Willing, and after riding about the woods until 
two o'clock, without the sign of a fox, we returned to Joseph 
Rudolph's and dined. 

Dec. 23 — J 785 — My son Thomas came home to spend Christmas 
with us. In the afternoon took a ride to William Standley's place 
at Point no Point, and stopped at Thomas Hopkinson's to see his 
colts. 

Dec. 25 — 1786 — Christmas day, clear and cold. Forenoon went 
to church in Race Street. My wife and I dined at General Mifflins 
with his family, and the Hon. Gerardus Wynkoop, Capt. N. Falkner 
and wife. My son William brought Capt. Falkner and wife to the 
General's in a sleigh and took them home. 

Dec. 25 — J 787 — Christmas. We three went to Reading by 
invitation of Gen. D. Brodhead and dined with him. There were 
nine at the table: Mr. C. Read, Mr. Dundass, Mr. D. Clymer, Mr. 
Moore, Gen. Mifflin, Captain Faulkner and myself. 

Diary of Jacob Hiltzhetmer. 

Member of State Assembly 



19 



Christinas in SsJem, 1780-87 

Dec* 25 f J 780 — Christmas, and rainy* Dined at Mr* Wctmorc^s 
with Mr* Goodale and familyt John, and Patty* Mr* Barnard and 
Prince at church; the mttsic good and Dr* Steward's voice above all* 

Dec* 25, J 782 — ^A very fine, clear day* The ch«rch very much 
crowded with well dressed people* Mr* Fisher movingly addressed 
the people of his chttrch and congregation in the close of his sermon, 
relating to their conduct, their morals and proffession as Christians, 
exhorting them to sobriety and decency of behaviotir on the solemn 
and joyftil occasion* In the evening at Mr* Wetmore's and sup 
there; a large company* 

Dec* 25, J 783, — Christmas Day; very cold; some snow* Mrs 
P. and I dine at home and have a comfortable Christmas to our- 
selves, having sufficient elbowroom and a warm fireside* Jno* and 
Mrs Goodale's family dine at Mr* Wetmore*s* 

Dec* 25, J 784 — Cold Christmas* Mrs* P« ill, and I confined by 
a cold, we dine by ourselves at a good warm fire* Mr* & Mrs Curwen 
spend the evening with us* * * 

Dec* 25 J 787— Very cold* * * Mrs Pynchon, John & I dine at 

"W* Cabots and had a most excellent and tasty dinner done by Miss 

Gerrish. 

Dtaiy of WiltUm Pynchon. 



20 



Christmas at Valley Forge 

Dec* 2t — 1777 — ♦ Preparation made for htitts» Provision 
scarce* Mr* Ellis went homeward — sent a Letter to my Wife. 
Heartily wish myself at home — my Skin & eyes are almost spoiled 
with continual smoke* 

A general cry thro' the Camp this Evening among the Soldiers — 
*No Meat! — No Meat!'" — the distant vales Ech'od back the melan- 
cholly sound — -^^No Meat! No Meat!** Immitating the noise of 
Crows & Owls, also, made a part of the confused Musick* What 
have you for our Dinners Boys? ** Nothing but Fire Cake & Water, 
Sir*** At night — ^* Gentlemen, the Supper is ready*** What is your 
Supper, Lads? **Fire Cake & Water, Sir*** 

Dec* 22d* — Lay excessive Cold & uncomfortable last Night — 
my eyes are started from their Orbits like a Rabbit's eyes, occationed 
by a great Cold — and Smoke* 

What have you got for Breakfast, Lads? **Fire Cake & Water, 
Sir*** The Lord send that our Commissary of Purchase may live 
on Fire Cake & Water * * * * 

Our Division are under Marching Orders this morning* I am 
ashamed to say it, but I am tempted to steal Fowls if I could find 
them — or even a whole Hog — for I feel as if I could eat one* But 
the Impoverish*d Country about us, affords but little matter to 
employ a Thief — or keep a Clever Fellow in good humour — But why 
do I talk of hunger & hard usage, when so many in the World have 

not even fire Cake & Water to eat * * * * 

21 



22 COLONIAL HOLIDAYS 

Dec. 23d — The Party that went otit last evening not Returned 
to Day. This evening an excellent Player on the Violin in that 
soft kind of Masick, which is so finely adapted to stirr up the tender 
Passions^ while he was playing in the next tent to mine, these kind 
of soft Airs — it immediately called up in remembrance all the endear- 
ing expressions — the Tender Sentiments — the sympathetic friendship 
and sensible pleasure to me from the first time I gained the heart 
& affections of the tenderest of the Fair * * * 

Dec. 24th — Party of the 22d retttrned. Hutts go on Slowly — 
Cold & Smoke make us fret. Bttt mankind are always fretting, 
even if they have more than their proportion of the Blessings of 
Life. We are never Easy — always repining at the Providence of 
an AU-wise & Benevolent Being — Blaming Ottr Country — or faulting 
owr Friends. But I don*t know of anything that vexes a man's 
Soul more than hot smoke continually blowing into his Eyes — & 
when he attempts to avoid it, is met by a cold and piercing Wind * * * 

Dec. 25thf Christmas. — ^We are still in Tents — ^when we ought 

to be in huts — the poor Sick suffer much in Tents this cold Weather — 

But we now treat them differently from what they used to be at 

home, under the inspection of Old Women & Doct. Bolus Tinctus. 

We give them Mutton & Grogg — and a Capital Medicine once in a 

While — to start the Disease from its foundation at once. We avoid 

— Piddling Pills, Powders, Bolus's Tinctus's — Cordials, and all such 

insignificant matters whose powders are Only rendered important by 

causing the Patient to vomit up his money instead of his disease. 

But very few of the sick Men Die. 

doctor Albigence Waldo. 

Sargeon from Connecticut. 



New Year's Day in Colonial Times 

I had travelled far enotigh in the day to hope for a qttiet sleep, 
htitt at iour in the mornings I was awakened by a mwsqtiet fired 
close to my windows: I listened, hut heard not the smallest noise, 
or motion in the street, which made me imagine it was some mttsquet 
discharged of itself without causing any accident. I again attempted 
to go to sleep, but a quarter of a hour after a fresh musquet or 
pistol shot interrupted my repose; this was followed by several 
others; so that I had no longer any doubt that it was some rejoicir^t 
or feast, like our village christenings. The hour indeed struck me 
as rather unusual, but at length a number of voices mingled with 
musquettry, crying out, new year, reminded me that we were at 
the first of January and concluded that it was thus the Americans 
celebrate that event* Though this manner of proclaiming it was 
not, I must own, very pleasing to me, there was nothing for it but 
patience; but at the end of half an hour, I heard a confused noise 
of upwards of a hundred persons, chiefly children or young people, 
assembled under my windows, and I very soon had farther indica- 
tion of their proximity, for they fired several musquet shot, knocked 
rudely at the door, and threw stones against my windows. Cold and 
indolence still kept me in bed, but Mr. Lynch got up and came into 
my chamber to tell me that these people certainly meant to do me 
honour, and get some money from me. I desired him to step down 
and give them two Louis; he found them already masters of the 
house and drinking my IandIord*s rum. In a quarter of an hour, 

they went off to visit other streets, and continued their noise till 

23 



24 COLONIAL HOLIDAYS 

day-light* On risingt I learnt from my landlord^ that it was the 
custom of the country for the yotmg folks, the servants, and even 
the negroest to go from tavern to tavern, and to other hotises, to 
wish a good new year^ and ask for a drink, so that there was no 
particular compliment to me in this affair, and I found that, after 
the example of the Roman Emperors, I had made a largess to the 
people* In the morning, when I went to take leave of General 
Clinton I met nobody but drunken people in the streets, but what 
astonished me most was to see them not only walk, but run upon 
the ice without falling or making a false step, whilst it was with 
the utmost difficulty I kept upon my legs. 

Marquis de Chastellux. 



New Year's Day, 1790 

"Friday 1st. — The Vice President, the Governort the Senators, 

Members of the Hotjse of Representatives in town, foreign public 

carachterst and all the respectable citizens, came between the ho«rs 

of 12 and 3 o'clock, to pay the compliments of the season to me — 

and in the afternoon a great number of gentlemen and ladies visited 

Mrs* Washington on the same occasion. 

Washington's Diaiy* 



25 



New Year*s Day in Boston 

Jan. 1, 1723 

New Year's day, before Sttn-rise being tip, I hear the Gtms of 
the Frigat, and Castle, U from the first, 21 from the Castle, which 
is the Signal of the Govemour's sailing* 

Samuel S^alL 



26 



New Year's Day in Philadelphia 

Philadelphia, Jan* it ^767 — ^Vcry, very cold* Delaware frozen 
over* Three sleighloads of us went to Darby to Joseph Rudolph's* 

Diajy of Jacob Hiltzheimer* 



27 



A Festive New Year's in Salem 

Jan* I J 783 Wednesday* Clear and very cold* A concert in 
the evening in the new Assembly Room; a dance for the yottng 
gentry at Mrs Pickman's* Da Sears in town^ called on me. 

2* Thursday. A fine, pleasant morning. Mttsick at the Assem- 
bly Room: 2 fiddles, F., horn, and drum. These and the Assembly 
engross the conversation and attention of the young and gay; the 
elders shake their heads with. What are we coming to? * * A private 
dance preparatory to the assembly. 

7. Tuesday. Cloudy and Cold * * Fine sledding; the street is 
so fifled with sleds, etc., of wood that there was scarce any passing. 
A dance at Bro. GoodaIe*s in the evening. 

8. Wednesday. * * Grafton, Jno. and Co. go to a dance at 
Endicot's; return at 12. 

9. Thursday. A dance at Grafton^s. 

Diary of Willidm Pynchon, 



28 



mk 



Y 



WSiT^- 



•■^r 



ialem 
>nrist- 






in 



a!x; 



^r 



-.v:. 



r 



!^i 




ler mov- 

...^^ „ jsedmepeo 

^^ . -^ pie of his church and 
r,2^<^| congregation • relating 
^j^i to their coiiduct- exhorl 
ling them to sobriei^ L 
^A decency of behaviour 
^^^'"on the solemn and joy 
(3U5 occasiorUnthe evening at Mr Wet- 
mores and sup there. A large company. 
f|anai7S3«Aconcert inthe evening in the new 
^Assembk^Room; a darjce forthe >pung 
gentry at McsPickmaiis. iThiu-sda^Musick 
at theAssembVRoom:2 fiddleiJT, horn k 
drum. These and the eisiembV ei^ross 
the conversation ajid attention of the 
oun-g and oav: the elders shake their 
eads withyvhat are we coming to^ 
ivate danceDTepaJ-atoiy tottie|Bsejnh!y 
uesaav^,7-Clouc^ and Cold • • * 
■jFine sledding; the 5treet , is , -so 
ed with sleds, Cac, of wood that 



m 



A dance at. Fro. GoodaTe's in the 
evening. 8.V\/ednesday 'Oraftoa 
Jno. and Co. go to a dance atEiidi- 



cqts; return at iz . ~ 




ifton:s,'>^ 
rncmn 



^mPj^ 



V 



St, Valentine's Day. — A Curious St. Valentine's Custom 

**Last Friday was St. Valentine's Day, and the night before I 
got five bay leaves and pinned fottr on the corners of my pillow, 
and the fifth to the middle; and then if I dreamt of my sweetheart, 
Betty said we shotjid be married before the year was out* But to 
make it more stire I boiled an egg hard and took out the yolk and 
filled it with salt; and when I went to hed ate it shell and all, without 
speaking or drinking after it. We also wrote oar lovers' names 
upon bits of paper, and rolled them up in clay and put them into 
water; and the first that rose up was to be our Valentine. "Would 
you think it? Mr. Blossom was my man. I lay abed and shtft my 
eyes all the morning, till he came to our house, for I would not have 
seen another man before him for all the world." 

The Connoisseur, of 1754, 



29 



I 



Valentine's Day, 1772 

My cousin Sally reeled off a 10 knot skane of yarn today* My 

valentine was an old country plow joger. The yarn was of my 

spinning* Atint says it will do for filling. Aunt also says niece is 

a whimsical child. 

c/inna Green Winslol^* 



30 




^^^Mitmti. 



entines 



Madame Pepys' Valentine 

**This morning came up to my wife's bedside little Will Mercer 

to be her valentine, and brought her name written upon blue paper 

in gold letters, done by himself, very pretty; and we were both well 

pleased with it* But I am also this year my wife's valentine; and 

it will cost me five pounds; but that I must have laid out if we had 

not been valentines." 

"Pepys" Diary, t667. 



3J 



Valentine's Day 

Philadelphia, Feb* 14^ J 767 — At noon went to William Jones's 
to drink punch, met several of my friends, and got decently drunk. 

Jacob Hittzheimer* 



32 



Easter, 1688 

Satterday Apr J4» Mr* West comes to Mr* Willard from the 
Governottr to speak to him to begin at 8* in the morn^ and says this 
shall be last time; they will btjild a house* Soe begin abotrt § hoar 
past 8* Yet the people come pretty roandly together* *Twas 
Easter-day, and the Lord^s Supper with us too* 

Samuel SewalL 

Boston 

April J 7th J 772 — * * The bell is ringing for good friday* 

(Anna. Green Winslo'W* 



33 



All Fool's Day 

*The First of April, some do say. 
Is set apart for all Foofs Day; 
Bat why the people call it so 
Nor I, nor they themselves, do know*^ 

^oor Robins^ c/lltTmnack, 1760* 



Boston, April I, 1772 — ^*WiII yotj be offended mamma, if I ask 

yoa, if yot( remember the flock of wild Geese that papa calFd yoa 

to see flying over the Blacksmith's shop this day three years? I 

hope not; I only mean to divert yoti* The snow is near gone in the 

street before as, & mttd supplies the place thereof; after a week's 

absence, I this day attended Master Holbrook with some difficulty, 

what was last week a pond is to-day a qtiag, thro' which I got safe 

however, & if attnt had known it was so bad, she sais she would not 

have sent me, but I neither wet my feet, nor drabled my clothes, 

indeed I have but one garment that I could contrive to drabble* 

R B* It is I April* 

Anna Green Winstdti)* 



34 



Gov. Bradford's Account of the May Day Celebration at 

Ma-re Mount 

They allso set up a May-pole, drinking and dancing abotrte it 
many days together, inviting the Indean women, for their consorts, 
dancing and frisking together, (like so many faries, or furies rather) 
and worse practices* As they they had anew revived and celebrated 
the feasts of the Roman Goddes Flora, or the beasly practieses of 
the Madd Bacchinalians* Morton likewise, (to shew his poetrie) 
composed sundry rimes and verses, some tending to lasciviousnes, 
and others to the detraction and scandall of some persons, which 
he affixed to this idle or idoll May poUe* They chainged allso the 
name of their place, and in stead of calling it Mottnte WoUaston, 
they call it Meriemottnte, as if this joylity would have lasted ever. 
Bat this continued not long, for after Morton was sent for England 
(as follows to be declared) shortly after came over that worthy 
gentleman, Mr. John Indecott, who brought over a patent under 
the broad seall, for the govermente of the Massachusets, who visit- 
ing those parts caused that May-poUe to be cutte downe, and rebuked 
them for their profannes, and admonished them to looke ther 
should be better walking; so they now, or others, changed the name 
of their place againe, and called it Mounte-Dagon. 

Willtam "Bradford, 1628, 



35 



May Day at Ma-re Mount, 1628 

The Inhabitants of Pasonagessit (having translated the name 
of their habitation from that ancient Salvage name to Ma-re Motint; 
and being resolved to have the new name confirmed for a memorial 
to after ages) did devise amongst themselves to have it performed 
in a solemne manner with Revels, & merriment after the old English 
ctistome: prepared to sett up a Maypole upon the festall day of 
Philip and Jacob; & therefore brewed a barrell of excellent beare, 
& provided a case of bottles to be spent, with other good cheare, 
for all commers of that day* And because they wottid have it in 
a compleat forme, they had prepared a song fitting to the time 
and present occasion* And ttpon May Day they brought the May- 
pole to the place appointed, with drtimes, gtinnes, pistols, and 
other fitting instruments, for that purpose; and there erected it 
with the help of Salvages, that came thether of purpose to see the 
manner of our Revels* A goodly pine tree of 80* foote long, was 
reared up with a peare of buckshorns nayled one, somewhat neare 
unto the top of it: there it stood as a faire sea marke for directions; 
how to find out the way to mine Hoste of Ma-re Mount* 

And because it should more fuUy appeare to what end it was 

placed there, they had a poem in readines made, which was fixed to 

the Maypole, to shew the new name confirmed upon that plantation, 

which although it were made according to the occurrents of the 

time, it being Enigmattically composed pusselled the Seperatists 

most pittifuUy to expound it, * * * 

The setting up of this Maypole was a lamentable spectacle to 

36 



,4^^ 




* -^ >> 



^:*^* 




•nil? 



'\ 



^ueen of t£e ^^^l^^ay^ 



MAY DAY AT MA-RE MOUNT, 1628 37 

the precise seperatists: that lived at new Plimmoiith, They termed 
it an IdoII; yea they called it the Calfe of Horeb: and stood at de- 
fiance with the place, naming it Mount Dagon; threatning to make 
it a woeftifl mottnt and not a merry mottnt * . * * 

There was likewise a merry songe made, which (to make their 
Revels more fashionable) was sttng with a CortiSt every man bearing 
his part; which they performed in a dattnce, hand in hand abotrt 
the Maypole, whiles one of the Company sttng, and filled out the 
good liquor like gammedes and lupiter* 

The Songe 

Drinke and be merry, merry* merry boyes. 
Let all your delight be in Hymen^s ioyes, 
lo to Hymen now the day is come, 
Abotft the merry Maypole take a Roome^ 

Make greene garlons, bring bottles out; 
And fill sweet Nectar, freely about, 
Vncover thy head, and feare no harme. 
For hers good liquor to keepe it warme» 

Then drinke and be merry, &c 
lo to Hymen, &c 

Nectar is a thing assigned 

By the Deities owne minde. 

To cure the hart opprest with greife. 

And of good liquors is the cheife. 

Then drinke, &c» 



38 COLONIAL HOLIDAYS 

Give to the MellancoUy man, 
A cup or two of't now and than; 
This physick* will soone revive his bload, 
And make him be of a merrier moode* 

Then drinke, &c 

Give to the Nymphe thats free from scome. 
No Irish sttiff nor Scotch over worne. 
Lasses in beaver coats come away, 
Yee shall be welcome to us night and day* 

To drinke and be merry &c» 

This harmless mirth made by younge men (that lived in hope 
to have wives brought over to them, that wottid save them a laboure 
to make a voyage to fetch any over) was mtjch distasted, of the 
precise Seperatists; that keepe mtjch a doe, abotrt the tyth of Mttit 
and Cummin; troubling their braines more than reason would 
require about things that are different and from that time sought 
occasion against my honest Host of Ma*re Mount to overthrow his 
ondertakings, and to destroy his plantation quite and cleane** * * 

Thomas cMorton. 



An Amusing May Day Incident 

Mrs* Alice Morse Earle in her excellent book. Stage Coach and 
Tavern Days, gives an account of a bit of rather tin-paritanical 
merry-making on the part of Jacob Mtirline and Sarah Ttittle in 
Hartford on May Day, J 660* In spite of a very stringent law 
prohibiting any love making without consent of parents, Jacob 
seized Sarah*s gloves and demanded a kiss as a forfeit* ** Whereupon 
they sat down together, his arm being about her, and her arm upon 
his shoulder or about his neck, so says the old Puritan chronicler, 
**and hee kissed her and shee kissed him, or they kissed one 
another, continuing in this posture about half an hour/' Sarah's 
father had Jacob dragged into court on a charge of **inveagling*' his 
daughter's affections, and things looked rather black for him, when 
Sarah changed the aspect of the case materially by informing the 
Court that Jacob did not inveigle her; she wanted to be kissed, and 
had enticed him* The Court then imposed a fine upon Sarah, 
which her father had to pay, and she was admonished as a **BouId 
Virgin" to watch her ways more carefully* She said **that she 
hoped God would help her to Carry it Better for time to come*" 



39 



Independence Day with Washington 

Sunday, July 4th 1790. 

**"Went to Trinity Church in the forenoon^ This day being the 
Anniversary of the declaration of Independence the celebration of 
it was put of ttntil to morrow, 

Monday 5th. 

The members of the Senate, House of Representatives, Public 
Officers, Foreign Characters &c.. The Members of the Cincinnati, 
Officers of the Militia &c,, came with the compliments of the day 
to me — about one o^cIock a sensible Oration was delivered in St. 
Paurs Chapel by Mr* Brockholst Levingston, on the occasion of the 
day — the tendency of which was to show the different situation we 
are now in, under an excellent government of our own choice, to 
what it would have been if we had not succeeded in our opposition 
to the attempts of Great Britain to enslave us; and how much we 
ought to cherish the blessings which are within our reach, & to culti- 
vate the seeds of harmony & unanimity in all our public Councils. — 
There were several other points touched upon in sensible manner. 

**In the afternoon many Gentlemen & ladies visited Mrs. 
Washington. 

**I was informed this day by General Irvine (who reed, the 
acct. from Pittsburg) that the Traitor Arnold was at Detroit & had 
viewed the Militia in the Neighbourhood of it twice. — This had 
occasioned much Speculation in those parts — and with many other 
circumstances — though trifling in themselves led strongly to a con- 
jecture that the British had some design on the Spanish settlements 
on the Missisipi and of course to surround these United States.^* 

Washington's Diary, 

40 



Independence Day 

Philadelphia 

July 4 — 1 78 J — Fireworks at State House. 

July 4 — 1783 — In the afternoon a triumphal car, prepared by 
Mr* Mason, attended by a number of boys and girls dressed in white, 
was paraded through the streets of the city, this being the memorable 
day independence was declared* 

July 4 — 1786 — Forenoon went to church in Race Street to hear 
Major William Jackson's oration delivered to the Pennsylvania 
Society of the Cincinnati* Afternoon went to Governor Samuel 
Morris's fishing house on Isaac Warner's place, and there dined on 
fish and beefsteaks. * * * * 

Jacob Hiltzheimer* 



41 



A Curious Ode to Independence Day 

(Written about the year 1800 and first published in the Farmer's Museum in Massachusetts.) 

Sq«cak the fife and beat the drum. 
Independence Day is come!! 
Let the roasting pig be bledt 
Qaick twist off the rooster's head, 
Qtiickly rtib the pewter platter. 
Heap the nut cakes fried in butter. 
Set the cups and beaker glass. 
The pumpkin and the apple sauce. 
Send the keg to shop for brandy; 
Maple sugar we have handy* 
Independent, staggering Dick, 
A noggin mix of swinging thick; 
Sal, put on your russel skirt, 
Jotham, get your boughten shirt. 
Today we dance to tiddle-tiddle — 
Here comes Sambo with his fiddle; 
Sambo, take a draw of whiskey. 
And play up Yankee Doodle frisky, 
Moll, come leave your witched tricks. 
And let us have a reel of six — 
Father and Mother shall make two; 
Sail, Moll, and I stand all a row. 
Sambo, play and dance polity; 

Tfiis is the day of blest equality, — 

42 



A CURIOUS ODE TO INDEPENDENCE DAY 43 

Father and Mother are but meiit 

And Sambo is a citizen* 

Come, foot itt Sal; MoU, figure in, 

Andt mother t yott dance tip to him; 

Now saw as fast as e'er yott can do, 

Andt father, yott cross over to Sambo. 

Thtts we dance and thus we play. 

On gloriotjs Independence Day* 

Rttb more rosin on yottr bow. 

And let tjs have another go — 

Zottnds! as stjre as eggs and bacon. 

Here's Ensign Sneak and Uncle Deacon, 

Atmt Thiah, and their Bet's behind her 

On blundering mare, that beetle blinder — 

And there's the Sqttire, too, with his lady — 

Sal, hold the beast, I'll take the baby! 

MoU, bring the Sqtiire out great arm-chair. 

Good folks we're glad to see you here — 

Jotham, get the great case bottle, 

Yotjr teeth can draw the corn-cob stopple — 

Ensign, Deacon, never mind; 

Squire, drink until you're blind* 



A Celebration of the Queen's Birthday in Boston, 1714 

(From the Diary of Samuel Sewall.) 

My neighbor Colson knocks at my door abotrt nine P» M., or 

past, to tell of disorders at the ordinary at the Sotrth End, kept by 

Mr. Wallace. He desired me that I wottid accompany Mr. Brom- 

field and Constable Howell hither. It was 35 minutes past nine 

before Mr. Bromfield came, then we went, took iEneas Salter with 

txs. Fottnd mttch company. They refused to go away. Said was 

there to drink the Queen's health and had many other healths to 

drink. Called for more drink and drank to me: I took notice of 

the affront, to them. Said they must and would stay upon that 

solemn occasion. Mr. Netmaker drank the Queen's health to me. 

I told him I drank none; on that he ceased. Mr. Brinley put on 

his hat to affront me. I made him take it off. I threatened to 

send some of them to prison. They said they could but pay their 

fine, and doing that might stay. I told them if they had not a care 

they would be guilty of a riot. Mr. Bromfield spake of raising a 

number of men to quell them, and was in heat ready to run into 

the street. But I did not like that. Not having pen and ink I 

went to take their names with my pencil, and not knowing how to 

spell their names they themselves of their own accord writ them. 

At last I addressed myself to Mr. Banister. I told him he had been 

longest an inhabitant and freeholder and I expected he would set 

a good example by departing thence. Upon this he invited them 

to his own house, and away they went. And we after them went 

away. 

44 




In Grandmothers Gown 



Celebration of Royal Birthdays in New York 

His Majesty's Birthday, was observed here with the «s«al 
solemnity* Between the hoars of eleven and twelve in the forenoon, 
his Excellency, otir Governowr was attended at his hotise in Fort 
George by the Cotincil, Assembly, Merchants, and other Principal 
Gentlemen and Inhabitants of this and the adjacent Places* The 
Independent Companies posted here being tinder Arms and the 
Cannon rotmd the Ramparts firing while His Majesty, the Queen's^ 
the Prince's, the Royal Families, and their Royal Highnesses, the 
Prince and Princess of Orange's Healths were drttnk; and thus 
followed the Healths of his Grace, the Dtike of New-Castle, of the 
Dttke of Grafton, of the Right Honorable Sir Robert Walpole, and 
many other Royal Healths* In the Evening the whole City was 
illuminated, his Excellency and Lady gave a splendid Ball and 
Sapper at the Fort, where was the most Nttmeroas and fine Appear- 
ance of Ladies and Gentlemen that had ever been known upon the 
Like occasion" 

Original account of the King's Birthday, J 734, 



**The Evening was concladed with all demonstrations of 

Loyalty and Joy* There was a Ball and Entertainment at the 

Fort at which the Appearance of Gentlemen and Ladies was 

very splendid, many of them in New Cloaths and very rich in 

Honor of the Day" 

King^s Birthday, t735* 
45 . 



46 COLONIAL HOLIDAYS 

The Prince of Wales's Birthday was celebrated at the Black 

Horse in a most elegant and genteel Manner, There was a most 

magnificent Appearance of Gentlemen and Ladies, The Ball began 

with French Dances, and then the Company proceeded to Country 

Dances, upon which Mrs Norris led tip two new Country Dances 

made upon the Occasion; the first of which was called The Prince 

of Wales, and the second The Princess of Saxe-Gotha, in Honour 

of the Day. There was a most stimptttotjs entertainment afterward. 

At the conclusion of which the Honourable Rip Van Dam, Esq., 

president of His Majesty's Council began the Royal Healths, which 

were all drank in Bumpers. The whole was conducted with the 

utmost Decency, Mirth and Cheerfulness*'. 

{f736) 



The King's Birthday 

Boston 

Oct. 30th — 1750 Went to the Ship, Wcatherheads and to 

Changet from thence went and Dynd at Capt. Wendells. Being his 

Majesties Birthday the Loyal healths were drank, we haveing an 

Invitation from Mr. Thomas Pierson Spent the Evening with him 

Singing Songs Drinking Loyal Toasts &c being Joynd by the Ladies, 

who shewed their Loyalty by accompV tts Singing &c. I Omitted, 

at noone went with Capt. Wendell to the Coancill Chamber in the 

Towne House where drank the Loyall Toasts with the Lietttt Governr 

Council &c^* 

Journal of Capt* Francis Goelet* 



47 



A "Turtle Frolick" in 1750 

Boston 

October 2^ J 750* Had an Invitation to day to Go to a Ttirtle 

Frolick with a Compy of Gent" and Ladies at M"" Richardson's in 

Cambridge, ab* 6 miles from Towne* I accordingly waited on Miss 

Betty Wendell with a Chaise, who was my Partner, the Companie 

Consisted of abottt 20 Cotiple Gent" and Ladies of Jhe Best Fashion 

in Boston, viz* the two Miss Phips, Lti* Govern"" Daughters, the Miss 

Childs, Miss Qttincys, Miss Wendells &c^ Danced Several Mintiits 

and Country Dances, and where very Merry about D«sk we all rode 

Home, and See our Partners safe, and Spent the Evening at Capt» 

Maglachlins &c» 

Journal of Ca.pt* Francis Goelet, 



43 



Programme for a Celebration of St Andrew's Day in 

Old Virginia 

Williamsburg, Oct. 7, 1737 

**Wc have Advice from Hanover Cotinty, That on St, Andrew's 
Day, being on the 30th of November next, there are to be Horse 
Races and several other Diversions, for the Entertainment of Gentle- 
men and Ladies, at the Old Field near Capt* John Bickerton's in 
that County, (if permitted by the Hon. William Byrd, Esq., Pro- 
prietor of the said Land) The Substance of which are to be as fol- 
lows, vizx 

**It is proposed, that 20 Horses or Mares do run round a Three 
Mile Course, for a Prize of the Value of Five Pounds, according to 
the usual Rules of Racing; That every horse that runs shall be first 
entered with Mr. Joseph Fox, and that no Person have the Liberty 
of putting in a Horse, unless he is a Subscriber toward defraying the 
Expence of this Entertainment, and pay to Mr. Fox Half a Pistole 
of it at entring his Horse. 

**That a Hat of the Value of 20s. be cudgelled for, and that 
after the first Challenge made, the Drums are to beat, once every 
Quarter of an Hour, for Three Challenges round the Ring; on no 
Answer made, the Person Challenging to be entitled to the Prize; 
and none to Play with their Left Hand. 

**That a Violin be played for by 20 Fiddlers, and to be given to 

him that shall be a,djudged to play the best: No Person to have the 

Liberty of playing, unless he brings a Fiddle with him. After the 

Prize is won, they are all to play together, and each a different 

Tune: and to be treated by the Company. 

49 



50 COLONIAL HOLIDAYS 

**That J 2 Boys of \2 years of Age do rttn 112 Yards for a Hat 
of the Value oi 12 Shillings* 

**That a Flag be flying on the said Day 30 Feet high* 

**That a handsome Entertainment be provided for the Sub- 
scribers and their Wives; and such of them who are not as happy as 
to have wives^ may treat any other Lady* And that convenient 
Bootfis be erected for that Purpose* 

**That Drums, Trumpets, Haut boys, &c* will be provided, to 
play at the said Entertainment* 

**That after. Dinner, The Royal Healths, his Honour the Gov- 
ernor's &c* are to be drank* 

**That a Quire of Ballads be sung for, by a Number of Song- 
sters, The best Songster to have the Prize, and all of them to have 
Liquor sufficient to clear their Wind Pipes* 

**That a Pair of Silver Buckles be Wrestled for, by a certain 
Number of brisk young Men* 

**That a Pair of handsome Silk Stockings of One Pistole Value, 
be given to the handsomest young Country Maid that appears in 
the Field; With many other whimsical and Comical Diversions, too 
tedious to mention here* 

**The Horse Race is to be run that day, fair or foul, but if foul, 
the other diversions are to be continued the next day* 

**The Subscription Money to be paid on the said Day in the 
Field; and Notice will be there given, who is to receive it* 

**And as this Mirth is designed to be purely innocent and void 
of Offence, all Persons resorting there are desired to behave them- 
selves with Decency and Sobriety; the Subscribers being resolved 
to discountenance all Immorality with the utmost Rigour* 

Virginia Gajzette* 



Election Day 

**Who blew up the ship? 
Nigger, why for? 
'Cause he couldn't go to 'lection 
An shake paw-paw" 

In J8t7 a negro boy, William Read, blew tip a ship, the Canton 
Packet, in Boston Harbor because he was not allowed to partake of 
the festivities of ** Artillery Election/' The above verse resulted 
from the incident* Paw-Paw was a game of chance in which sea 
shells were ttsed as dice* Negroes were allowed on the Common 
only at ** Nigger 'Lection" 



51 



The First Thanksgiving Held in North America 

The Frobisher Expedition on shores of Newfoundland, 1578 

**In primus: — to banish swearing, dice and card playing, and 
filthy commtinicationt and to serve God twice a day, with the 
ordinary services of the Qittrch of England^. On Monday morning. 
May twenty-seventh, 1578, aboard the Ayde^ we received all, the 
communion by the minister of Gravesend, prepared as good Chris- 
tians toward God, and resolute men for all fortunes; and toward 
night we departed toward Tilbury Hope* Here we highly prayed 
God, and altogether, upon our knees, gave him due humble and 
hearty thanks, and Maister Wolfall, a learned man appointed by 
minister, made unto us a goodlye sermon, exhorting all especially 
to be thankful to God for His strange and marvelous deliverance in 
those dangerous places**. 



52 



A Thanksgiving at Sagadahoc in 1607 

**Sundaye being the nineth of August ^ in the morninge, the 

most part of o«r hole company of both ottr ships, landed on this 

island, where the cross standeth, and thear we heard a sermon 

delyvred unto us by o«r preacher, giving God thanks for o«r happy 

meetinge and safe aryvall into this country; and so returned aboard 

again*\ 

Old Record. 



53 



Thanksgiving at Plymouth, 1621 

All sorts of grain which otjr own land doth yields 
Was hither brotightt and sown in every field: 
As wheat and rye, barley, oats, beans and pease 
Here all thrive and they profit from them raise. 
All sorts of roots and herbs in gardens grow, — 
Parsnips, carrotts, turnips or what yott'U sow. 
Onions, melons, cttctimbers, radishes, 
Skirets, beets, coleworts and fair cabbages. 

Famine once we had — 
But other things God gave us in full store. 
As fish and ground ntrts, to supply our strait. 
That we might learn on providence to wait; 
And know, by bread man lives not in his need. 
But by each word that doth from God proceed. 

Gov* Bradford* 



54 



The H€urvest 

They beganc now to gather in the small harvest they had, and 

to fitte tip their hottses and dwellings against winter, being all well 

recovered in health and strength, and had all things in good plenty; 

for as some were thus imployed in affairs abroad, others were excer- 

sised in fishing, abottte codd, and bass, and other fish, of which they 

tooke good store, of which every family had their portion. AH 

the sommer ther was no wante. And now begane to come in store 

of fottle, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when 

they came first (b«t afterward decreased by degrees)* And besides 

water fotile, ther was great store of wild Ttirkies, of which they 

tooke many, besides venison, etc. Besids they had abotite a peck 

of meale a weeke to a person, or now since harvest, Indian corne to 

that proportion. Which made many afterwards write so largely of 

their plenty hear to their freinds in England, which were not fained, 

but true reports^ ^ ^ m rr t 

GoK Bradford 

Ttirkies there are, which divers times in great flocks have sallied 

by otir doores; and then a gttnne (being commonly in redinesse) 

salutes them with such a courtesie, as makes them take a turne in 

the cooke room. They dance by the doore so well! Of these there 

hath bin kifled, that have weighed forty-eight pound a piece * * 

The Beare is a tyrant at a lobster, and at low water will downe to 

the Rocks, and groape after them with great diligence. Hee will 

runne away from a man like a little dogge. If a couple of Salvages 

chance to espie him at his banquet, his running away will not serve 

his turne, for they will coate him and chase him between them home 

to their houses^ where they kill him, to save a laboure in carrying 

himfarre.*' ^, __ ^ 

1 homos Morton* 
55 



The Festival 

**Our harvests being gathered itif o«r governor sent foure men 
on fowling, so that we might after a more speciall manner re Joyce 
together, after we had gathered the frttit of out labors; they foure 
in one day killed as much fowie as with a little heipe beside, served 
the company almost a weeke, at which time amongst other recrea- 
tions, we exercised ottr Armes, many of the Indians coming amongst 
as, and amongst the rest their greatest King Massasoyt, with some 
ninetie men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and 
they went otit and killed five deere, which they brought to the 
Plantation and bestowed on our Governor, and upon the Captaine 
(Standish) and others. And although it be not always so plentifufl, 
as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodnesse of God, we are 
so farre from want that we often wish you partakers of our plentie* 

Edivard Wttisloiv* 



56 



The Fast and Thanksgiving of 1623 

**1 may not here omite how, notwithstand all their great paines 

and indttstriet and the great hops of a large croppt the Lord seemed 

to blastt and take away the same^ and to threaten further and more 

sore famine ttnto them, by a great drought which continued from 

the 3 weeke in May, till about the midle of July, without any raine, 

and with great heat (for the most parte), insomuch as the corne 

begane to wither away, though it was set with fishe, the moysture 

whereof helped it much. Yet at length it begane to languish sore, 

and some of the drier grounds were parched like withered hay, 

part whereof was never recovered*** TTr.<f- rr, tr * 

Wtlham Bradford, 

**The most courageous were now discouraged, because God, 
which hitherto had been their only shield and supporter, now seemed 
in his anger to arm himself against them* These and like considera- 
tions moved not only every good man privately to enter into exam- 
ination with his own estate between God and his conscience and so 
to humiliation before him, but also more solemnly to humble our- 
selves together before the Lord by fasting and prayer* To that 
end a day was appointed by public authority, and set apart from 
all other employments; hoping that the same God, which had stirred 
us up hereunto, would be moved hereby in mercy to look down 
upon us and grant the request of our dejected souls, if our continuance 
there might any way stand with his glory and our good* But O the 

mercy of God! who was as ready to hear as we to ask; for though 

57 



58 COLONIAL HOLIDAYS 

in the momingt when we assembled together^ the heavens were as 
clear^ and the drottth as like to contintte as ever it waSt yet (ottr 
exercise contintiing some eight or nine hours) before oar departure, 
the weather was overcast, the clouds gathered together on all sides, 
and on the next morning distilled such soft, sweet, and moderate 
showers of rain, continuing some fourteen days and mixed with 
such seasonable weather, as it was hard to say whether our withered 
com, or drooping affections, were most quickened or revived? such 
was the bounty and goodness of God. Of this the Indians, by 
means of Hobbamock, took notice, who being then in the town, 
and this exercise in the midst of the week, said, it was but three 
days since Sunday, and therefore demanded of a boy, what was 
the reason thereof, which when he knew, and saw the effects fol- 
lowed thereupon, he and all of them admired the goodness of our 
God towards us, that wrought so great a change in so short a time, 
showing the difference between their conjuration, and our invocation 
on the name of God for rain, theirs being mixed with such storms 
and tempests, as sometimes, instead of doing them good, it layeth 
the corn flat on the ground, to their prejudice, but ours is in so 
gentle and seasonable a manner as they never observed the like. 
Having these many signs of God's favor and acceptation, we thought 
it would be great ingratitude, if secretly we should smother up the 
same, or content ourselves with private thanksgiving for that which 
by private prayer could not be obtained. And therefore another 
solemn day was set apart and appointed for that end; wherein we 
returned glory, honor, and praise, with all thankfuhiess, to our 
Good God, which dealt so graciously with us; whose name for these 
and all other his Mercies towards his church and chosen ones, by 
them be blessed and praised, now and evermore. Amen. 

Edward Winstow* 



A Thanksgiving with Anna Green Winslow 

Boston, Nov., 1771 

I gtiess I shall have btit little time for journalizing till after 
thanksgivings My aunt Deming says I shall make one pye myself 
at least* I hope somebody beside myself will like to eat a bit of 
my Boston pye thoti* my papa and you did not (I remember) chase 
to partake of my Cumberland performance. I think I have been 
writing my own Praises this morning. Poor Job was forced to 
praise himself when no man would do him that justice. I am not 
as he was * * * 

Nov. 27th — * * Last monday I went with my aunt to visit 
Mrs Beacon. I was exceedingly pleased with the visits & so I ought 
to bct my aunt says, for there was much notice taken of me, par- 
ticularly by Mr. Beacon. I think I like him better every time I 
see him. I suppose he takes the kinder notice of me, because last 
Thursday evening he was here, & when I was out of the room, aunt 
told him that I minded his preaching & could repeat what he said — 
I might have told you that notwithstanding the stir about the 
Proclamation, we had an agreable Thanksgiven. Mr. Hunt's text 
was Psa. XCVII. L The Lord reigneth, — let the earth rejoice. 
Mr. Beacon's text P. M. Psa. XXIV. J. The earth is the Lord's & 
the fuHness thereof. My unkle & aunt Winslow of Boston, their 
son & daughter, Master Daniel Mason, (Aunt Winslow's nephew 
from Newport, Rhode Island) & Miss Soley spent the evening with 
us. We young folk had a room with a fire in it to ourselves. Mr. 

Beacon gave us his company for one hour* 

59 



60 COLONIAL HOLIDAYS 

30th Nov — My company yesterday were 

Miss Polly Deming 

PoUy Glover 
Miss Peggy Draper 
Miss Nancy Glover 
Miss Bessie Winslow 
Miss Sally Winslow 
Miss Polly Atwood 
Miss Hanh Soley. 

Miss Attwood as well as Miss Winslow are of this family. And 
Miss N* Glover did me honor by her presence, for she is older than 
cousin Sally and of her acquaintance* We made four couple at 
country dansing; danceing I mean* In the evening young Mr* 
Waters hearing of my assembly, put his flute in his pocket and 
played several minuets and other tunes to which we danced mighty 
cleverly. But Lucinda was our principal piper* Miss Church and 
Miss Chaloner would have been here if sickness, — and the Miss 
Sheafs, if the death of their father had not prevented* The black 
Hatt I gratefully receive as your present but if Captain Jarvise had 
arrived here with it about the time he sailed from this place for 
Cumberland, it would have been of more service to me, for I was 
obliged to borrow* * * * I hope aunt wont let me wear the black 
hatt with the red Dominie — for the people will ask me what I 
have got to sell as I go along the street if I do, or, how the 
folk at New guinie do? Dear mamma, you don^t know the fat ion 
here — I beg to look like other folk * * I must now close up this 
Journal* 

With Duty, Love & Compliments, as due, perticularly to my 



A THANKSGIVING WITH ANNA GREEN WINSLOW 6t 

Dear little brother (I long to see him) & Mrs Law, I will write 

her soon, 

I am Hon*d Papa & Mama, 

Y-f ever Dtitiftil Daughter, 

Anne Green Winslow. 

N» B, My attnt Deming dont approve of my English & has not 
the fear that you will think her concerned in the Diction* 



A New England Thanksgiving Dinner in 1779 

**Dear Cousin Betsey: — * * 

When Thanksgiving Day was approaching our dear Grandmother 
Smith (nee Jerttsha Mathert great-granddattghter of the Rev* Richard 
Mather of Dorchester, Mass*,) who is sometimes a little desponding 
of Spirit as you well know, did her best to pttrsuade us that it would 
be better to make it a Day of Fasting and Prayer in view of the 
Wickedness of our Friends &c* the Vileness of our Enemies* I am 
sure you can hear Grandmother say that and see her shake her cap 
border* But indeed there was some occasion for her remarks, for 
our resistance to an unjust authority has cost our beautiful Coast 
Towns very dear the last year & all of us have had much to suffer* 
But my dear Father brought her to a more proper frame of Mind, 
so that by the time the Day came she was ready to enjoy it almost 
as well as Grandmother Worthington did, & she, you will remember, 
always sees the bright side* In the mean while we had all of us 
been working hard to get all things in readiness to do honor to the 
Day* 

"This year it was Uncle Simeon*s turn to have the dinner at 

his house, but of course we all helped them as they help us when it 

is our turn, & there is always enough for us all to do* All the baking 

of pies & cakes was done at our house & we had the hig oven heated 

& filled twice each day for three days before it was all done, & ewetY- 

thing was Good, though we did have to do without some things 

that ought to be used* Neither Love nor Money could buy Raisins, 

62 



A NEW ENGLAND THANKSGIVING DINNER IN J779 63 

b«t ottr good red cherries dried without the pits, did almost as well 
& happily Uncle Simeon still had some spices in store. The tables 
were set in the Dining Hall and even that big room had no space 
to spare when we were all seated. The Servants had enough ado to 
get arottnd the Tables & serve tts all withotrt over-setting things. 
There were our two Grandmothers side by side* They are always 
handsome old Ladies, bttt now, many thought, they were handsomer 
than ever, & happy they were to look around ttpon so many of their 
descendants. Uncle & Atmt Simeon preside at one Table, & Father 
& Mother at the other* Besides us five boys & girls there were two 
of the Gales & three Ehners, besides James Browne & Ephriam 
Cowles* We had them at our table because they could be best 
supervised there* Most of the students had gone to their own homes 
for the weeks, but Mr* Skiff and Mr* — were too far away from their 
homes* They sat at Uncle Simeon's table & so did Uncle Paul and 
his family, five of them in all, & Cousins Phin & Poll* Then there 
were six of the Livingston family next door* They had never seen 
a Thanksgiving Dinner before, having been used to keep Christmas 
Day instead, as is the wont in New York & Province* Then there 
were four Old Ladies who have no longer Homes or Children of 
their own & so came to us. They were invited by my Mother, but 
Uncle and Aunt Simeon wished it so* 

**0f course we could have no Roast Beef* None of us have 
tasted Beef this three years back as it all must go to the Army, 
& too little they get, poor fellows. But, Mayquittymaw's Hunters 
were able to get us a fine red Deer, so that we had a good haunch 
of Venisson on each Table. These were balanced by huge Chines of 
Roast Pork at the other ends of the Tables* Then there was on 
one a big Roast Turkey & on the other a Goose, & two big Pigeon 
Pasties. Then there was an abundance of good Vegetables of all 



64 COLONIAL HOLIDAYS 

the old Sorts & one which I do not believe you have yet seen* Uncle 
Simeon had imported the Seede from England just before the War 
began & only this Year was there enough for Table use* It is called 
Sellery & you eat it without cooking. It is very good served with 
meats* Next year Uncle Simeon says he will be able to raise enough 
to give us all some* It has to be taken tipf roots & all & buried in 
earth in the cellar through the winter & only pulling up some when 
you want it to use. 

** Our Mince Pies were good although we had to use dried Cherries 
as I told you, & the meat was shoulder of Venisson, instead of Beef. 
The Pumpkin Pies, Apple Tarts & big Indian Puddings lacked for 
nothing save Appetite by the time we had got around to them. 

**0f course we had no Wine. Uncle Simeon has still a cask or 
two, but it must be all saved for the sick, & indeed, for those who 
are well, good Cider is a sufficient Substitute. There was no Plumb 
Pudding, but a boiled Suet Fuddingt stirred thick with dried Plumbs 
& Cherries, was called by the old name & answered the purpose. 
All the other spice had been used in the Mince Pies, so for this 
Pudding we used a jar of West India preserved Ginger which chanced 
to be left of the last shipment which Uncle Simeon had from there, 
we chopped the Ginger small and stirred it through with the Plumbs 
and Cherries. It was extroardinary goods. The Day was bitter cold 
& when we got home from Meeting, which Father did not keep over 
long by reason of the cold, we were glad eno* of the fire in Uncle^s 
Dining Hall, but by the time the dinner was one-half over those 
of us who were on the fire side of one Table was forced to get up & 
carry our plates v/ith us around to the far side of the other Table, 
while those who had sat there were glad to bring their plates around 
to the fire side to get warm. All but the Old Ladies who had a 
screen out behind their chairs. 



A NEW ENGLAND THANKSGIVING DINNER IN 1779 65 

** Uncle Simoen was in his best moodt and yoti know how good 
that is! He kept both Tables in a roar of lattghter with his droll 
stories of the days when he was studying medicine in Edinborottgh, 
& afterwards he & Father & Uncle Paul joined in singing Hymns & 
Ballads, Yott know how fine their voices go together. Then we 
all sang a Hymn and afterwards my dear Father led as in prayer, 
remembering all Absent Friends before the Throne of Grace, & mtich 
I wished that my dear Betsey was here as one of tts, as she has been 
of yore, 

** We did not rise from the Table until it was quite dark, & when 
the dishes had been cleared away we all got arottnd the fire as close 
as we could, & cracked nuts, & sang songs, & told stories. At least 
some told, & others listened* You know nobody can exceed the 
two Grandmothers at telling tales of all the things they have seen 
themselves, & repeating those of the early years in New England, 
& even some in the Old England, which they had heard in their 
youth from their Elders* My Father says it is a goodly custom to 
hand down all worthy deeds & traditions from Father to Son, as 
the Israelites were commanded to do about the Passover & as the 
Indians here have always done, because the Word that is spoken 
is remembered longer than the one that is written* * * Brother Jack, 
who did not reach here until late on Wednesday though he left the 
College very early on Monday Morning & rode with all due diligence 
considering the snow, brought an orange to each of the Grand- 
mothers, but Alas! they were frozen in his saddle bags* We soaked 
the frost out in cold water, but I guess they wasnH as good as they 

should have been * * 

Juliana, Smith* 



Thanksgiving Proclamation of Gen. Washington at Valley Forge, 

May 6, 1778 

**It having pleased the Almighty Rtder of the Universe to 
defend the cause of the United American States, and finally to raise 
tis up a powerftil friend among the princes of the earth, to establish 
ottr liberty and independency upon a lasting foundation, it becomes 
us to set apart a day for gratefully acknowledging the Divine Good- 
ness, and celebrating the important event which we owe to his 
Divine Interposition* The several brigades are to be assembled for 
this purpose at nine o'clock to-morrow morning, when their chap- 
lains will communicate the intelligence contained in the postscript of 
the Pennsylvania Gazette of the second instant, and offer up thanks- 
giving, and deliver a discourse suitable to the occasion* 

**At half-past ten o'clock a cannon will be fired, which is to be 
a signal for the men to be under arms? the brigade inspectors will 
then inspect their dress and arms, and form the battalions accord- 
ing to the instructions given them, and announce to the commanding 
officers of the brigade that the battalions are formed* 

**The commanders of brigades will then appoint field-officers to 

the battalions, after which each battalion v/ill be ordered to hold 

and ground their arms* At half-past eleven a second cannon will 

be fired as a signal for the march, upon which the several brigades 

will begin march by v/heeling to the right of platoons, and proceed 

by the nearest way to the left of their ground by the new position; 

this will be pointed out by the brigade inspectors. 

**A third signal will then be given, on which there will be a 

66 



WASHINGTON'S THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION 67 

discharge of thirteen cannon, after which a running fire of the 
infantry will begin on the right of Woodford^s, and will continue 
throttghout the front line; it will then be taken ttp on the left of 
the second line, and continue to the right* Upon a signal given, 
the whole army will h«2za: 

"LONG LIVE THE KING OF ITRANCEr' 

**The Artillery then begins, and fires thirteen rotinds; this will 
be sttcceeded by a second general discharge of the musketry in a 
running fire, and huzza i 

**LONG LIVE THE FRIENDLY EUROPEAN POWERS!** 

"The last discharge of thirteen pieces of artillery will be given, 
followed by a general running fire and h.uzza.i 

"THE AMERICAN STATES!** 

Geo, Washington* 



Thanksgiving in New York 

Thursday Nov. 26th — Being the day appointed for a Thanks- 
giving, I went to St. Patil's Qiapel, though it was most inclement 

and stormy — hut few people at church* 

Washington's Diaiy* 



68 



Record of a Thanksgiving at Scituate Church Dec. 22, 1636 

**In ye Mcctinghoasct beginning some halfe an hotjr before nine 
& contintted wntil after twelve aclock, ye day beeing very cold, 
beginning wt a short prayer, then a psalme sang, then more large 
in prayer, after that an other Psalme, & then the Word taught, 
after that prayer — & then a psalme, — Then makeing merry to 
the creattires, the poorer sort beeing invited of the richer*'* 



69 



The Thanksgiving Law 

**That it be in the power of the Governor & Assist^ to comand 

solemn daies of hamiliacon by fasting &Ct and also for thankesgiving 

as occasion shall be offered* \ 

Colonial Laws, 1636, 



70 



The First Thanksgiving Procleunation in Early New York 
Records, Aug. 31, 1645 

** "Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God in his anbotinded 
clemency and mercy, in addition to many previous blessings, to 
suffer tis to reach a long wished for peace with the Indians^ There- 
fore, it is deemed necessary to proclaim the fact to all those of 
New Netherland, to the end that in all places within the aforesaid 
country where Dtrtch and English charches are established, God 
Ahnighty may be especially thanked, praised, and blessed on next 
Wednesday forenoon, being the 6th of September, the text to be 
appropriate and the sermon to be applicable thereto. Your Rev- 
erence will please announce this matter to the Congregation next 
Stfnday so that they may have notice. On which we rely. 

M S* Council Minutes* 



71 



Thanksgiving in Boston in 1685 and 1688 

Sabbath Day, Nov J5t 1685* In the afternoon Mary Smithy 
Widow, Mr* Wheelwright's Grandchild, was taken into the Church; 
then Mr* Willard mentioned what the Elders had done as to a Thanks- 
giving, and propounded to the Chtirch that we might have one on 
the first Thorsday in December: because had Fasted, and God had 
graciously answered our Prayers; so should meet Him in the same 
place to give Thanks for that, and any other Providence that hath 
passed before tts* Silence gave Consent, no one speaking* 

Wednesday, Novf 18* Uncomfortable Court day by reason of 
cxtream sharp words between the Deputy Govemour and Mr* 
Stoughton, Dudley and Others* Some Essay to have put a Sanction 
upon the Apointment for a Thanksgiving; but it fell tfirough* I 
argued 'twas not fit upon meer Generals, as (the Mercies of the 
year) to Comand a Thanksgiving and of Particulars we could not 
agree* Governour would have had one Article for the Peace of 
England, according to His Majesty's Proclamation* 

Friday Novt 20th * * Mr* Stoughton & Dudley not here today. 
**Twas Essayed again to have had a Sanction put on the Thanks- 
giving: but 'twas again pleaded, to do it without mentioning par- 
ticular causes would be to impose too much on those Comanded* 

So feH* 

Samuel Se^ualL 

72 



THANKSGIVING IN BOSTON IN J685 AND J688 73 

April \Zf J 688 — * * This day an Order is made that next 
Sabbath-day senight be a Thanksgiving for the Qtjeen's being with 
Child 

Apr* 22, t688 — Mr* Willard having rec*d no Order mentions not 
the Thanksgiving: though it seems one was sent to him at noon to 
mention it, but left no Order with him* 

April 29 — Mr* Willard received an Order abotrt the Thanks- 
giving on Satterday night; yet read it not this day, but after the 
Notes said such an Occasion was by the Governottr recommended 

to be given Thanks for* 

Samuel Se^ivalU 




Q^iMfieu! > 



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